By Jane Corscadden

Copyright belfastlive

A new site in Belfast city centre is set to be a “once in a generation” development with up to 600 homes. The plan for Clarendon Wharf will see the development of new homes alongside a range of commercial, leisure, and community uses. The multi-million pound development is designed to create a “vibrant city centre neighbourhood” while restoring the historic docks area and unlock more than ten acres of public realm. The plans, proposed by Belfast Harbour, have been set out in a planning application which is expected to be considered by Belfast City Council later this year. The proposed development is designed to connect with the wider city centre, while celebrating Belfast Harbour’s maritime heritage. It will integrate with recent development in the City Quays area, adding to the recently opened City Quays Gardens, and previously approved City Quays 4 (c.256 Build-to-Rent apartments), City Quays 5 (Grade A office building with ground floor retail, community, cultural and restaurant uses), and 69 social and affordable homes located within Sailortown at Pilot Street. In its first phase, the development will see construction of 450 homes for rent, in a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments. The homes will have an affordable element offered at discount market rents, together with wheelchair-accessible units Belfast Harbour said the development will be focused on sustainability , with an all-electric development and BREEAM UK New Construction: Residential accreditation, providing independent verification a property has met the expected level of performance for sustainability and quality. A key pillar of Belfast Harbour’s ‘Advance Regional Prosperity’ Strategy 2025-29 is the creation of vibrant and inclusive places to live and work. It aims to deliver 325 new homes and to have started the process of developing over 3,000 additional homes by 2029. Speaking on the proposals, Joe O’Neill, Chief Executive of Belfast Harbour, said: “Clarendon Wharf represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine this important part of Belfast’s waterfront. Our vision is to create a vibrant, sustainable city centre neighbourhood that combines new homes, employment space, and leisure opportunities alongside exceptional public realm development. “This project will not only help meet the city’s critical housing needs but also reinforce Belfast Harbour’s role as a catalyst for regeneration.” Beyond housing, the scheme proposes around 3,000 square metres of new active ground floor usage, including retail, leisure, and community spaces complemented by a hotel and apart-hotel. These will bring activity to the neighbourhood, creating employment opportunities and enhancing the city’s visitor offering. Kevin Ryan, Director of Development at Belfast Harbour, added: “Clarendon Wharf has been carefully designed by an international and local team of experts who have undertaken research and engagement into successful neighbourhoods to balance the delivery of high-quality homes with the sensitive treatment of Belfast Harbour’s rich heritage assets. “By enhancing connections to the city centre, opening up new green and blue spaces, and supporting active travel, this scheme will deliver a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone who lives in, works in, and visits Belfast.” A defining feature of the scheme is the public realm strategy, which will deliver more than 10 acres of new and improved open space. This includes a 5-acre central square and dock, significant greening, and a network of new pedestrian and cycle routes that will link Clarendon Wharf with the wider city and the Maritime Mile. The historic dry docks , described as the ‘jewel’ of the site, will be sensitively restored and reimagined protecting their heritage into the future, while Clarendon Dock will be repurposed as a unique waterfront lido, showcasing Belfast’s industrial heritage while providing space for cultural and leisure activities. The proposals also include the revitalisation of listed buildings, the enhancement of historic assets, and the integration of climate-resilient design features such as rain gardens and biodiversity-focused landscaping. Together, these will create a distinctive neighbourhood rooted in its history whilst looking firmly to the future. Belfast Harbour has submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to Belfast City Council for the development of the ambitious new development at Clarendon Wharf. A pre-application community consultation period will be undertaken for a minimum 12 weeks, including a public event and consultation website. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.